US school sports star dies lifting weights

A high school sports star who died lifting weights at his US home was discovered by his mum pinned under a bar.

Jake Pezon was bench-pressing a bar weighing 84kg alone in his basement on Wednesday night when, police suspect, the bar fell on his chest and he was unable to lift it off.

The 16-year-old's mother arrived at the home in the small town of Slinger, Wisconsin, shortly after midnight on Thursday and found her son unresponsive with the weights still on his chest, local media report.

Jake was known as an exceptional athlete at his local high school, playing for both the gridiron and wrestling teams.

Slinger High School gridiron coach Jeff Baker told FOX6 News he remembered Jake as a devoted athlete. He said he encouraged players to train at home but do so with a buddy.

"It's a very sad reminder to be safe when you do those types of things," he said.

"You just realize how fragile life is. One mistake, one slip — it can be that simple.

School district administrator Bob Reynolds described the teen as an "all-around nice kid, a hard worker".

Police are waiting for an autopsy to determine an official cause of death.